Vibratory harvester with alternately actuated vibratory fingers

ABSTRACT

A row-straddling carriage has sets of individually vibrated fingers mounted on each side. Each set is reciprocable horizontally to penetrate into the crop and is slidable longitudinally of the carriage, against a spring load to remain in contact with the crop as the carriage advances. A system of hydraulic controls effects alternate advance of adjacent and opposed sets of fingers so that each set penetrates the crop while the carriage advances a short distance.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Horace E. McKibben Grand Junction,Mich. [2]] Appl. No 754,905 [22] Filed Aug. 23, 1968 [451 Patented June1, 1971 [73] Assignee Blueberry Equipment, Inc.

South Haven, Mich.

[54] VIBRATORY HARVESTER WITH ALTERNATELY ACTUATED VIBRATORY FINGERS 8Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 56/330 [51] Int. Cl A01g 19/00 [50] Field of Search 56/330,331, 328, 45, 46

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,484,319 10/1949 Sperry56/46 3,129,551 4/1964 Lasswell, Jr. 56/328 3,241.302 3/1966 Barry56/25.4 3,396,521 8/1968 McKibben et all. 56/330 3,478,501 1 1/1969Patzlaff 56/330 Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Att0rney-Austin A.Webb PATENTED JUN 1 l9?! SHEEI 1 [IF 3 a m a INVEN'IUR. Harare f MK/bben ATTORNEY PATENTEU JUN 1 197i SHEET 2 OF 3 I I -1 I IN VEN'I UR.fibrace E. M k/bben AITTORNEY PATENTEUJUN Hen 3.581.485

SHEET 3 OF 3 j} a INVENTOR.

Horace E M /Obben ATTORNEY VIIBIRATOIRY liIAlRVESTER WITH ALTERNATELYACTUATED VIBIRA'I'ORY FINGERS OUTLINE OF INVENTION The inventionprovides intermittent penetration of vibratory fingers into the plant orbush of the crop being harvested. The fingers move relative to thecarriage to maintain contact with the crop without tearing the bush asthe machine advances. Opposed fingers and vertically spaced fingers areactuated in timed sequence to maintain vibratory contact with the bushas the machine advances and as the alternate fingers are retracted atthe end of their travel relative to the longitudinal advance of themachine.

FIG. I is a top plan view of a harvester with the vibrator membermounting of the invention thereon.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged vertical cross-sectional view takenalong the plane of the line 2-2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inner ends of thevibrator members on one side of the machine, and the support for themembers.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal cross-sectional view of the vibratorsand supports taken along the plane of the line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the hydraulic system forreciprocating the vibrating members.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the valve operator for controllingthe sequence of operation of the vibrators.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the valve operator associated withthe valves of the hydraulic system.

As appears generally in FIG. 1, the harvester consists of arow-straddling carriage having two upright side frames I connected bycrossmembers 2 at the top. An operators seat 3 is supported behind acontrol panel 4. The carriage has wheels 5, and an engine 6 driving anelectric generator 7 and a hydraulic pump 8 for actuating the severalcomponents of the harvester. No attempt is made to show all of the driveconnections or crop-collecting elements as such parts are generally oldand form no part of the invention. A plurality of crop-shaking orvibrating fingers 9 are mounted on each side of the harvester toreciprocate horizontally into and out of the crop row between the twoside frames. The fingers and their mountings on each side of thecarriage are the same, so a description of one side will be sufficientto an understanding of the structure.

As appears more clearly in FIG. 2,3, and 4, each side frame of thecarriage includes longitudinally spaced inner uprights 10 and outeruprights )lll, connected by horizontal crossbars i2 and longitudinalframe members 13. Intermediate uprights M are connected to the crossbars12. Pairs of longitudinally extending tubes and 16 connected between theinner uprights i9 and intermediate uprights respectively form aplurnlity of vertically spaced horizontally extending slideways. Fiveslideways are shown in the example illustrated. The slideways supportvibrator frames generally indicated at 117 for sliding longitudinally ofthe carriage.

Each frame 117 consists of front sleeves 1b which are slidable on one ofthe tubes 15, and a rear sleeve 19 slidable on one of the tubes 16.Upright plates 20 are welded to the sleeves l8 and plates M are weldedto the sleeves 19. Extending transversely of the machine between theplates 20 and 21 are spaced rods 22 of circular cross section, whichform a transverse slideway on each frame.

Each transverse slideway supports a vibrator support indicated generallyat 23. The support consists of two tubes M slidable on the rods 22, andconnected at their front or inner ends by a faceplate 25. A platform 26connects the tops of the tubes 24. The faceplate carries bearings 27that rotatably support the shafts 28 of the vibratory fingers 9 whichproject transversely inwardly from the faceplate. The fingers and theirmounting are vibratorily driven by belts 29 driven by a motor 39 on eachplatform. Desirably, the fingers are driven at high speed in an orbitalpath, in the manner disclosed and described more fully in my copendingapplication, Ser. No. 696,198, filed Jan. 8, 1968, now US. Pat. No.3,482,383.

The vibrator supports 23 are reciprocated on the rods 22 by hydrauliccylinders 31, each having their rear or outer end connected by a bracket32 to the plate 21 of its associated frame 17. The extensible piston rod33 of the cylinder extends alongside of the motor 30 and is connected toa clevis 34 on the faceplate 25. The transverse stroke of the vibratorsupport and the fingers 9 carried thereby is of the order of l7 inchesin the example illustrated. Spacer sleeves 35 on the rods 22 limit theretracting motion of the fingers.

The frames 17 are freely slidable on the longitudinal slide rods 15 and16 but are biased toward the front of the harvester by springs 36connected between the sleeves l8 and the forwardly displaced innerupright 10. With particular reference to FIG. 3, it will be seen thatalternate frames 17 are staggered or offset longitudinally of theharvester, so that the vibratory fingers 9 of one frame are initiallyoffset between the vertical planes of the adjacent fingers. This isaccomplished by short spacer sleeves 37 and long spacer sleeves 33 onthe slide rods 115. As the fingers 9 on each frame are advanced into thecrop or bush being harvested, advancing motion of the harvester causesthe frame to slide rearwardly on the tubes 15 and 16. When the fingersare retracted from the bush, the springs 36 return the frames to theirforemost positions.

The mechanism for transversely advancing and retracting the supports 23with the vibratory fingers thereon is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 which showthe several cylinders 31 and the associated hydraulic system. The pumpIE delivers to two valves 39 and 40, each associated with the cylinderson one side of the harvester. The valves are mechanically actuatedbetween two opposite positions with a dwell period between motion to thetwo positions. A valve actuator including a speed reducer M. is drivenby a motor 42 to rotate the shaft 43 with cams 44 and 45 thereon atspacing. A rock shaft 46 mounted on top of the speed reducer carries apair of sleeves 47 each with a yoke 43 and 49 projecting rigidlytherefrom. The yokes carry follower rolls 50 and 51 that are engaged bythe rotating cams M and 45. Each yoke is connected as at 52 to theactuating plunger of one of the valves 39 or M.

As the cam 44 engages roller 51 on yoke 48 to shift valve 39, cam 45 isleaving the yoke 49 and roller associated with valve t0. Valve 39 isshifted to admit pressure to conduit 53, and connect conduit 54 to thereturn to the pump. Left cylinders 31A, 31C, and 3IE are accordinglyretracted, and left cylinders 31B and 31B are advanced tocorrespondingly reciprocate the left vibrator fingers. The fingersremain in this position until the valve is reversed by rotation of thecam 44 to follower 50, when the positions of the fingers on the leftside of the machine are reversed.

Prior to reversal of position of the left fingers, cam 45 will engageits associated follower 5b to roclt the yoke 49 and shift valve ift.This supplies pressure to conduit 55 and connects conduit 56 to thereturn line. The action results in cylinders 31F, MH and 31K retracting,while cylinders 31G and 31] advance the fingers associated therewith.

By coordinating the speed of the motor 42 and gear reducer 41 to theground speed of the harvester, the length of time that the fingers 9will be projected into the bush can be coordinated with horizontalmovement of the harvester. This time and distance of horizontal advanceis less than the yieldable motion of the vibrating fingers permitted bythe frames 17 on the slide rods 15 and 16. A desirable timing of thefingers is to arrange the speed of the cam shaft 43 :so that valve 39 isactuated by cam 44 to advance the pistons of the cylinders 31B and 31Dwhile the harvester is advancing about 5 inches on the ground. Thefingers 31A, 31C and 31D retract during the same period. The fingers ofthe left side remain in these positions for about 180 of rotation of theshaft 43 which is equal to about 15 inches on the ground. In themeantime, the cam 45 which controls valve 40 will have engaged follower50 and actuated the valve to advance the pistons of the cylinders 33F,31H and 31K, while retracting the pistons of cylinders 316 and 311].Since cams M and 45 are offset by 90, there will be a period during eachcycle when fingers from each side of the machine are advanced intooperative engagement with the crop. The fingers that are in engagementwith the crop from one side of the machine will retract prior to thefingers from the other side. As a result, the part of the crop or bushreleased by one group of fingers tends to move rearwardly and be engagedby the other group of fingers from the other side of the machine.

What I claim as new is:

l. In a harvesting machine adapted to straddle crop row and havingplural vibrator fingers on each side engageable with opposite sides ofthe crop, the improvement which comprises,

plural fingers supported at different levels on each side of themachine,

plural sets of coacting longitudinal slides and cross-slides with eachset supporting at least one of said fingers at each level on one side ofthe machine,

springs biasing the longitudinal slides forwardly relative to thedirection of longitudinal advancing motion of the machine,

and power means connected to reciprocate the cross-slides transverselyof the machine.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 in which there are a pair of fingersarranged in longitudinally spaced and transversely extending relation oneach set of slides,

and a motor on each set of slides connected to rotate each finger in anorbital path.

3. A machine as defined in claim 1 or 2 in which said power means areindividual connections to said cross-slides arranged to advancevertically alternate fingers into the crop, while retracting the othervertically spaced fingers.

4. A machine as defined in claim 3 in which the power means on oppositesides of the machine are actuated, one in delayed relation to the other.

5. A machine as defined in claim 4 in which the power means arehydraulic cylinders connected to advance and retract the verticallyspaced fingers,

and valve means connected to actuate said cylinders,

the valve means associated with one side of the machine being actuatedin trailing relation to the valve means associated with the other sideof the machine.

6. A machine as defined in claims 3 or 5 in which said power means, andthe valve means thereof in claim 5, have structure providingfinger-advancing and finger-retracting periods separated by a dwellperiod,

and the time for each advancing motion and each retracting motion isequal to the time required to advance said machine about 5 inches on theground.

7. A machine as defined in claims 3 or 4 in which a group of fingers isadvanced into the crop at about every 7% inches of travel of themachine.

8. A machine as defined in claim 1 in which said power means are drivenin timed relation to the movement of said machine to advance and retractsaid fingers during movement of the machine along the ground which isless than the movement permitted by the longitudinal motion of said partof said cross-slides.

1. In a harvesting machine adapted to straddle crop row and havingplural vibrator fingers on each side engageable with opposite sides ofthe crop, the improvement which comprises, plural fingers supported atdifferent levels on each side of the machine, plural sets of coactinglongitudinal slides and cross-slides with each set supporting at leastone of said fingers at each level on one side of the machine, springsbiasing the longitudinal slides forwardly relative to the direction oflongitudinal advancing motion of the machine, and power means connectedto reciprocate the cross-slides transversely of the machine.
 2. Amachine as defined in claim 1 in which there are a pair of fingersarranged in longitudinally spaced and transversely extending relation oneach set of slides, and a motor on each set of slides connected torotate each finger in an orbital path.
 3. A machine as defined in claim1 or 2 in which said power means are individual connections to saidcross-slides arranged to advance vertically alternate fingers into thecrop, while retracting the other vertically spaced fingers.
 4. A machineas defined in claim 3 in which the power means on opposite sides of themachine are actuated, one in delayed relation to the other.
 5. A machineas defined in claim 4 in which the power means are hydraulic cylindersconnected to advance and retract the vertically spaced fingers, andvalve means connected to actuate said cylinders, the valve meansassociated with one side of the machine being actuated in 90* trailingrelation to the valve means associated with the other side of themachine.
 6. A machine as defined in claims 3 or 5 in which said powermeans, and the valve means thereof in claim 5, have structure providingfinger-advancing and finger-retracting periods separated by a dwellperiod, and the time for each advancing motion and each retractingmotion is equal to the time required to Advance said machine about 5inches on the ground.
 7. A machine as defined in claims 3 or 4 in whicha group of fingers is advanced into the crop at about every 7 1/2 inchesof travel of the machine.
 8. A machine as defined in claim 1 in whichsaid power means are driven in timed relation to the movement of saidmachine to advance and retract said fingers during movement of themachine along the ground which is less than the movement permitted bythe longitudinal motion of said part of said cross-slides.